Many believe it is not possible for a Christian to be demonized. Unfortunately, this lie keeps many Believers in bondage. Satan wants to suppress the truth that tells us: deliverance is the children’s bread. He knows that the sooner the real Church begins to walk in the full authority and power that has been given to us, the sooner the world will know that God’s Kingdom is real and is at hand. The longer we withhold the truth, Church, the longer God’s people will continue to suffer and be rendered ineffective in their call.

The Church body is the only entity that has authority and power, through Jesus, to counteract Satan’s demonic attacks on the people. When we do not operate within the authority we have been given, it is like having access to all the money we need yet choosing to not use it.

When Jesus began His ministry on the Earth, He went into all the cities and villages teaching, preaching and healing the people. When He saw the multitudes gathering around Him, He was moved with compassion for they were weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Afterwards, Jesus called His disciples to Him and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits so that they could cast them out and heal all kinds of sickness and disease: “Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.” Matthew 10:5-8

As you can see, Jesus’ ministry to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons” was for God’s children first. He later grafted into the family of God those who were not from the house of Israel. As the result, today you and I can claim the same blessings and benefits. After Jesus was crucified and risen, He gave His disciples the following commission: “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son ad of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” His instructions did not change. Today, Believers still have the same authority and power, through Jesus, to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons.” Furthermore, Jesus told His followers prior to His ascension into Heaven: “he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14

You must know that demons (evil spirits) are real. They are actually invisible persons with personalities and a will that crave physical bodies to operate through. There is a direct correlation between demons and sin for there is a demon attached to every sinful act. Demons are also legalistic. They know they cannot touch you unless they have been given the right to do so. Therefore, when you commit a sin, you give a demon the legal right to access your body, your life and your family through generational curses. Some people, including Christians, have multiple demons driving them around like a car. Allow me to explain.

Your body is like a house with many rooms. Prior to a Christian accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they may have committed sin which opened the door to their body (their house). When this happens, demons welcome the opportunity to come in and take up residence which means your body (your house) becomes their house too. Once a demon settles in, they do not want to leave.

When sin becomes a regular part of your lifestyle, you are in danger of being demonized. You may think your sin is a secret but you are wrong. God knows and the devil knows. Your sin separates you from God however it draws you closer to Satan and opens you up to his demons who cause you to act out the sin they are attached to. You are not alone.

You see, Jesus does not wave a magic wand over you to take all the bad stuff away. As a follower, Jesus gives you the authority and the power to turn away from your sin, but He will not force you. You have to want to be free from sin. If you do not choose to deny your flesh, the demons know this and they will remain and continue to torment you until you do what is necessary to remove them.

After you accept Jesus, Holy Spirit (the Helper) comes and dwells within you (your house). However, He cannot occupy any area in your body (your house) where you have allowed demons to reside. Likewise, He will not force you to kick sin out but He will help you if you so desire. There are many Christians in the Church serving the Lord and yet are still slaves to demons in certain areas of their life where they need deliverance.

People sin. However, when a true Christian sin, they should be convicted to stop sinning. Sin in the life of a true Christian should be diminishing instead of remaining as the result of having the guidance and help of Holy Spirit. For this reason, prayer, confession and repentance should be a daily part of a Christian’s life. We must actively and consistently be eliminating sin from our lives before demons have a chance to settle in.

Sometimes, the Lord may choose to completely remove a stronghold and its demon. We have all heard testimonies of people who were immediately delivered from drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc. upon giving their life to Jesus and being baptized. However, this is not always the case. Most of the time, we have to learn to operate within the authority and power that has been given to us which includes how to fight the attacks of the enemy. This is called spiritual warfare. When we do nothing about the sin in our lives, we allow demons to have their way in our lives.

If a person claims to be a Christian and yet they still desire to sin, this could mean that they are not truly saved. Not everyone who calls on the name of the Lord is of the Lord. Just because someone says a prayer, attends church or says they are a Christian, doesn’t make it so. You have to test the spirit. Only God can draw a person to Him and only God knows the true state of a person’s heart. A true Christian loves God and wants to please Him. A true Christian does not want to continue sinning. A true Christian loves God’s Word and follows Jesus. They are striving to live a life of obedience and holiness.

If a person is truly saved, desperately wants to be free of the sin in their life and yet still finds it difficult to do so, they may need help from the Church. The Lord has given unique gifts to the Church body in the form of the five-fold ministry. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are anointed to help the Church body with situations such as this. If you need help in this area, ask the Lord for guidance and talk to your pastor about deliverance. If your church does not have a deliverance ministry, find one that does.

For most situations, every Spirit-filled Believer can themselves operate within the authority and power Jesus has given them to break any hold sin or demons have on them.

HOW DO I CAST OUT A DEMON AND THE SIN ATTACHED TO IT?

Several years ago, the Lord showed me in a dream a picture of a group of rods bound tightly together by a red band. I heard Him tell me to speak to the rods. He explained that He had given me the authority and the power to loose and to bind my circumstances through my words. I commanded the tightly bound rods to be loosed and I immediately saw the band that bound them turn white. The rods then separated and fell apart.

Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth will be loosed in Heaven.” Every true Spirit-filled Believer has this authority and power through Jesus. By speaking it forth, you can use your words to loose and bind your circumstances.

Repeat the following actions for every sinful act you have participated in.

Be clean before the Lord. Forgive others so that God will forgive you. Bitterness, anger, grudges and unforgiveness will place a barrier between you and the Lord which will prevent Him from hearing your prayers.

Confess and repent of your sin. Be sincere and do it with a contrite heart.

Verbally denounce the demon that is attached to the sin in your life. Let the demon know that it no longer has a right to influence you for you have confessed your sin and no longer desire it in your life. Declare that you are a child of God covered by the blood of Jesus and no evil can exist in His presence.

Demand that the demon and its sin loose its hold on you. Demand that it immediately leave and never return. Take a deep breath and exhale. Do this as many times as you feel the need.

Discard any and all demonically charged objects that previously belonged to you, i.e. pornography from your phone and computer, books, movies, music, art and even people that negatively influence you.

Now, invite Holy Spirit to come in and dwell in the space where sin once occupied. Allow Him to cleanse you with prayer and the Word of God.

Now that you understand how sin and demons interact, you have the upper hand. Now that you understand the authority you have over sickness, disease and demons, you can verbally demand that strongholds back off, back up and be cast out, in Jesus name. Now that you understand there is power in your words, you can bind what is attacking you and loose what has bound you by speaking it forth, in Jesus name. Now that you understand, you will have no excuse when you go before the Lord. Not only does God expect you to walk in this, He expects you to teach these things to others. Walking in God’s truth and be free.

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

God is a God of love, tenderness, mercy and grace. God is a God of holiness, purity, light and virtue. God is also a God who is almighty, omniscient, righteous and just.

Light cannot exist in darkness and holiness cannot exist where there is evil which is why sin, of all kinds, separates us from God. God commands that His children be Holy for He is Holy. If this were not so, it would not be written: “as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15

The absence of holiness has caused God’s hand to move away from this world. Unfortunately, the more God’s hand is lifted, the closer the enemy moves in. The more the ebb tide recedes, the more the rocks are revealed. If you have ears to hear, you know that the Lord is speaking. He is warning you and preparing you as His perfect storm is brewing. “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” Jeremiah 18:11

Look around you and you will see the signs of the times… Evil in the world is no longer hiding in plain sight. It has become darker, more blatant and is readily accepted by the people. We are seeing more leadership in the Church falling and failing the Church body. They focus on entertaining instead of interjecting God’s Word. They are busy growing their congregations, chasing the dollar and prostituting themselves as they build their own kingdoms instead of God’s. As the result, the world is yielding black and bitter fruit from the evil seeds that have been planted.

Strange phenomenons and Geo-physical events (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, cyclonic storms, floods, droughts, avalanches and landslides) are increasing and becoming more commonplace. Closer to home and as it pertains to us, you must know that judgment will also come to the United States. In 2008, the Lord revealed to me in a vision evidence of powerful earthquakes that will soon come to devastate coastal and mid-western states. I was shown two columns that listed names of major cities that will be destroyed. There were approximately 10 or 12 total. Time is winding down. Destruction, like none that has ever been experienced on this Earth, is at hand. If you have eyes to see, you know that there are many behind the scenes preparing for those who are waiting to be unveiled. It is happening now, even as we speak. Russia’s Putin is setting the stage for the anti-Christ who will soon come onto the scene.

So, what do you do? First, you must understand that the people in this world have sinned. They are guilty of rejecting the Truth who is Jesus, the Anointed One (Yeshua HaMashiach, the Hebrew translation). And because God’s people have not repented and cried out to Him, for we are the only one’s who can move God’s hand through prayer, judgment must come upon the world. You must also understand that everything that will happen will be for the purpose of creating a perfect storm that will usher in these last and final days. If you are a Believer, look to the Lord for guidance and listen to His Voice, alone. Be careful to guard your eyes and ears for lies and deception is the rule of the day. It is extremely important for you to know Whose you are and Who you are following for many will be deceived into taking the mark that will be associated with the enemy. Do not receive this mark. You must refuse it, at all cost – even if it means your death. Know that those who refuse will suffer persecution and many will be killed. However, there will be a few who will remain faithful and they will rise above it all. If the Lord is truly with you, you will be among them. You have been given a small window of time to repent of your sins, turn away from evil, align yourself with God (Elohim, the Hebrew translation) and share your testimony with others as a witness to the existence of the true and living God. Use this time wisely.

In the very near future, Satan will unveil his own who are evil doers who have been given a short leash for a short period of time – by God – to do as God has allowed for God even uses the devil as all is under His control. The perfect storm will be used to sift and separate the people. When all have been tried and tested, those who follow Satan will suffer defeat and destruction. They will follow the devil into Hell and be tormented for all eternity. Those who follow Jesus will be victorious. They will be united with Him and live forever in eternal glory. Where will you be?

“You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:9-10

Mature Christians would agree that the further they remove themselves from the trappings of this world, the closer they are drawn to the Lord. There is a direct correlation between the willingness we have to die to self which includes losing all that we believe gives us life here on this Earth and the ability we have to fully live for Jesus Christ. Everything in your life must be evaluated based on its relevance to your relationship with God. In doing so, you will find that it all either draws you closer to the Lord, or it pulls you away from the Lord.

If you have a desire to go deeper in your relationship with God, you must be willing to reach beyond the basic Christian requirement of reconciliation with the Father. You must be willing to allow God to completely have His way with you. This process, as uncomfortable as it may be, will serve to purge you in ways that will reveal a closer, more intimate relationship with the Lord.

The flesh needs purging to cleanse you from carnality which gives you a distaste for sin. The soul needs purging to cleanse you of pride and a stubborn nature which points to unrighteous thoughts and emotions. The spirit needs purging to cleanse you of self-righteousness and self-sufficiency which helps you recognize that you are weak in yourself and strong in the Lord. This is necessary for spiritual maturity and advancement within the spiritual things of God.

The Lord was in the process of purging me of a stronghold that was hindering my spiritual growth as well as my ministry at the time that I received the following vision. I would not have believed this about myself if the Lord had not allowed me to have this experience.

Several years ago, I lay in bed late one night wide awake and restless. The room was dark and quiet and my husband lay next to me sound asleep. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a whirlwind blowing in the distance. I could feel nothing but the wind seemed to move closer to me for the sound grew louder with intensity. As I looked around me to see what was happening, I saw a small, bright light appear in the distance. It gradually increased until it consumed my entire bedroom. I was physically incapable of seeing nothing other than a blinding white light and hearing nothing other than the almost deafening sound of a strong wind whirling all around me.

I was not frightened for somehow I knew it was the Lord. I had experienced His presence before, so I lifted my head up off my pillow and struggled to hear His voice again but I heard nothing this time but the sound of the whirlwind.

For a moment, I thought I was blinded by the brilliant white light, then out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure standing beside my bed on the right side of where I lay. Its shape had a bodily form but there were no recognizable features. It consisted of nothing but light which was even brighter than the light that consumed my room. As I tried to focus my eyes on the form, I saw It move. It leaned over me and placed Its arms under my body and I could feel my legs and waist begin to lift up off the bed.

Within a split second, many thoughts began to flood my mind. I was reminded of a prophecy that had been spoken over me years before telling me that I would walk on Holy Ground. I wondered if this was the day the Lord would take me to Heaven. “Would I return?” I wondered.

I then began to have thoughts of my young grandson growing up without me. I remembered my son, whom I have not seen in years, and the hope I held onto that told me I would see him again. I remembered my two daughters, my sisters and my husband and the plans we had made together. “I am not ready to go,” I thought. I could see nothing in the room around me but I could feel everything, so I reached out my left hand to touch my husband who was lying next to me. I could feel his pajamas so I grabbed a hold of the elastic at the top of his pants hoping my husband’s body would keep my body from continuing to lift off the bed. Within an instant, the loud sound of the whirlwind stopped, the brilliant light that had consumed my bedroom disappeared and the brilliant white bodily form was gone. I lay there for a second or two stunned by what had just happened then I woke my husband and told him everything.

I prayed to God about my experience and asked Him to explain what had happened to me. The Lord answered. Although I have heard the audible voice of God speak to me in the past, this time He chose to speak silently to my spirit. He told me that the experience I had was given to reveal a stronghold that was hindering my walk and preventing me from fulfilling the call God has on my life…

Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26-33

When we read and understand this scripture in its full context, we know that Jesus is explaining to us that we must be mindful of the cost of our discipleship and how important it is to pay. To truly follow Christ, we must be willing to follow Him – at all cost. We must be willing to trust Him fully with our life even if it means giving up EVERYTHING. We must be able to recognize all that draws us closer to the Lord and all that pulls us from Him. Jesus sacrificed everything for us. Just how much are we willing to sacrifice for Him? It is important for us to know and agree to the cost it will take to follow Jesus. And we must acknowledge this going in because the enemy will take full advantage of any fickleness or double-mindedness to get you to compromise your walk with the Lord.

A stronghold is a faulty mindset that hinders your growth in Christ, and it can be rooted in anything or anyone. The stronghold that the Lord wanted to make me aware of happened to be rooted in my family. Due to possible conflict or separation, I had stopped speaking to my family about God. I had also stopped delivering messages that the Lord had given me for them. It became apparent to me after the vision that my plans concerning my family had become more important to me than God’s plans concerning my family. The relationships I had with the people I loved had become more important to me than God’s Will for my life. Was I willing to lose those whom I loved the most in this world in the process of being obedient to God? It was a hard question to ask and an even harder question to answer. The Lord had to show me this in a very dramatic way for I would not have believed it otherwise.

Any stronghold that we have in our lives will eventually become a spiritual weakness. It makes you weak and vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. If they are not dealt with, they will open a door to the enemy and allow him access to your life and to the lives of your family. This walk is not for those who are holding onto the things, and the people, of this world for dear life.

Take the time to thoroughly examine your own life to see if you have areas that have become strongholds. If so, they are hindering your walk with the Lord. Make sure your thoughts concerning anything and anyone line up with what Jesus has to say about it. If you find that there are discrepancies, you must correct them as soon as possible. If you don’t address them, you can be absolutely sure that the enemy will.

As I lay in bed sleeping early the morning of August 5, 2017, I heard the audible voice of the Lord. “Are you ready?” He asked me. Then I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and lay still for a moment or two thinking about the question I had just heard. Then, I responded in a whisper, “Ready for what?”

I waited but heard nothing more. Later that morning, as I prepared for church, I heard the Lord speak a second time. Only this time, He spoke quietly to my spirit. “Are you ready?” He asked again. He continued by telling me every experience that He has allowed me to encounter and every person He has placed in my life has been for the purpose of equipping me and preparing me for everything that He has for me. The question was to prompt me to ready myself for what He has prepared for me at this particular time in my life. So I thought about my life and tried to reconcile everything I have gone through – the good, the bad and the ugly. This included the circumstances I was currently going through which was probably the worst experience to date that I could remember…

Just a few months earlier, I watched in disbelief as my life literally shut down around me. It all began in March, 2016, after my husband received a dream. In the dream, the Lord showed him a dot on a map which was located in another state. There were no instructions in the dream, just a visual image. We later realized that the dream was a message from the Lord preparing us for a geographical move. I got the message pretty early on however the idea seemed so ridiculous to my husband at the time that he refused to believe it because it didn’t make logical sense in light of everything that was going on in our life at the time.

As it appeared to us, the Lord was blessing my husband on his job. He had received a double promotion the year before and the money was better than it had ever been. Also, I had just launched what should have been a successful online home décor business. Our ministry and family life seemed to be thriving and we had just found out that my oldest daughter was pregnant with our second grandson. However, God’s plans do not always line up with our plans which can often be deceiving.

In addition to my husband’s dream, I had also received a few dreams. One relayed a message from the Lord that I should not work as I had been working. It was during this time that the Lord told me that I was to focus on my writing which is a part of my ministry. The other dream warned me of changes that were to come to my husband’s place of employment. It was shown to me that this change would result in him losing his job – which came to past. Still, however, we ignored these signs for our eyes and our hearts were telling us something different. Eventually, God’s timing took precedence over ours and the Lord began to shut everything down.

Still not understanding what the Lord was doing, we tried everything we could to cling to our life as we knew it believing God would turn things around. But nothing was fruitful. As our finances waned, it became crystal clear that the Lord was, in fact, uprooting us from one place and moving us to another.

As one who prefers to plan ahead, this was especially difficult for me. With only a geographical location in mind and tears in my eyes, we moved reluctantly towards the unknown. We had no idea where we were going to live, what we were going to do when we got there and how we were going to afford it all. Miraculously, on the day of our move, money showed up in my bank account that just happened to be exactly enough for what we needed to do to get from point A to point B – no more, no less. Little did we know that God had already paved the way before us and opened doors that only He could have moved.

In the months prior to our move, the Lord had orchestrated events that led us to meet a pastor and his wife who were located in this new place and we quickly became friends. After arriving, we faithfully attended and actively participated in their church. My husband immediately found work and I continued with my writing. I even pursued getting my real estate license and we began to look for a house. Just when we thought things were going to settle down, the Lord instructed me to give a word of rebuke to the pastor and his wife. Obediently, I gave the word as the Lord instructed – thus ending our friendship. Shortly thereafter, the Lord made it known that He was moving us again.

Upon arriving at the second new location, we encountered a family crisis, survived a hurricane, continued to struggle financially and nearly lost all of our earthly possessions. The mounting stress was almost unbearable and it was taking a toll on our marriage. Yet, in the midst of it all, I have to say God was still there. He never abandoned us. He provided for us, sustained us and even performed a few miracles along the way. Although nothing happened the way I had hoped, everything happened as God would have it.

In fact, it became clear to me that the more I was losing in the natural, the more I was gaining in the spiritual… I heard God speak more. I received more messages through dreams and visions. The Lord revealed to me more wisdom and taught me more lessons. There was even an incident where God allowed me to experience spiritual warfare, upfront and personal, when He revealed to me in a dream the shocking details of a family member’s life and her deep involvement in witchcraft. I was in awe of the Lord and how He orchestrated everything. Not knowing what to expect, we approached the family members who were involved prepared to confront the demonic. It was all so surreal. No one could deny that God is God for everyone admitted that everything He had shown me in the dream was absolutely true. It was a terrible time and yet it was an amazing time all at the same time.

As I stood in the mirror preparing myself for church that morning, exhausted and overwhelmed, I thought about it all. So I gave the Lord an honest answer to the question He had asked. “No, Lord,” I responded. “I am not ready.” Then quickly, I remembered Who it was that I was talking to and the call that was on my life. I also remembered the promises that I am holding on to – and I could not deny the faith I have in Jesus Christ to fulfill it all. So quickly I added, “However, I will be.” So I continue to pray for the faith, strength and right attitude to successfully fulfill all that God has for me, in Jesus’ name.

Followers of Jesus Christ, I am here to ask you the very same question. “Are you ready?” The life of a Believer is not easy and it is not for the weak or the faint at heart. Regardless of what you’re going through and regardless of what your life may look like, know that God is still in it. He has a divine plan for your life. I want to encourage you to look beyond what you see in the physical and focus on what God is doing in the spiritual. He has spoken His Will concerning you. He is sending His angels before you to prepare the places you will go. He is touching the hearts of many and granting you favor with the people He has destined for you to meet. He has placed power in your words and His authority in your hands. He is going to use you according to His Will and He will do whatever He needs to do to bring it to past. But, even in all of this, He will not force Himself or His Will upon you. You must be ready and willing to receive it.

Pray and ask the Lord to strengthen you for His Call. Ask Him to grow your faith so that you will believe and not doubt when times get hard. Ask Him to lift you higher so your standards will not be lowered. Do not allow the spiritual warfare that we all must battle to get the best of you. Put on the Armor of God, get back in the fight and boldly proclaim to the Lord, “I am ready!”

I leave you with the following Scripture to further encourage you: “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you… it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by His name for the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?” 1 Peter 4:12-17

In May of 2017, I received a vision where the Lord showed me a single word. Very clearly and very boldly, I saw: IMMINENT.

A few days prior to this vision, the Lord gave me a dream that came with a warning for the Church body: “Get your house in order!”

God is reaching out to His people in these final days. He is warning us that time is drawing very near to the return of our Lord and Savior. The Church must be ready for the IMMINENT return of Jesus Christ!

On May 13th, 2017, I received this prophetic dream…

In the dream, the Lord showed me working as a landlord for a large, diverse multi-family community. Within this community, there were many buildings. Within each building, there were three types of dwellings. There were two single-story apartments on the left – one on the top-level and the other on the lower-level – and a two-story townhouse on the right.

I saw myself walking from building to building thoroughly examining each home for cleanliness and looking for evidence of trash. First, I checked the outside of each residence – the area that is most visible to the public. Then, I used my master-key and opened the door to check the inside of the residence – the interior where the tenant actually lived. Finally, I walked to the back of the house and opened the door to the patios and porches – the area where many cover and hide the ugly things they don’t want anyone else to see.

As I examined each home, I noted everything I saw that was unclean. At the homes where I found dirt and trash, I left a written notice informing the tenant that they were in violation and at risk of being evicted. I gave them a warning to clean their house and remove all the trash. I also notified them that I would return very soon, at an unspecified date, to inspect their homes again. I made it perfectly clear that if their house was still dirty at the time of my return, the penalty of an eviction would surely be enforced.

A few of the tenants took my warnings seriously and quickly did what was necessary to comply with the landlord’s orders. Some were complacent thinking they had plenty of time. Others became angry. They complained and criticized the landlord. They rejected the warning and did nothing at all. The angry tenants felt that the landlord had no right to tell them how to live. It was their life and they felt that they should be able to live it any way they chose.

I, being the landlord, kindly explained to these tenants that this property was being managed by me and I was being held accountable to the owner who had given me all authority to impose and enforce rules and guidelines that I deemed necessary to keep the owner’s property clean and in good order. I further explained that I would not force them to comply for everyone has the freedom to make their own choices however,no one can choose the consequences that would surely follow their actions. Then I awoke from the dream.

After the dream, the Lord showed me that the Landlord I portrayed was a representation of Jesus. The buildings represent the world. The tenants represent the people. The apartments and town homes represent three categories of people who make up this world. The apartments located on the lower level represent those who are considered the least by the world. The apartments located on the upper-level represent those who are considered just above the least by the world. The two-story town homes represent those who are considered privileged and wealthy by the world. The landlord required everyone, regardless of their status, to comply with the conditions that were set for the community. Everyone was treated the same. No one was exempt as Jesus is no respecter of persons.

As the landlord in my dream I carried a master key which gave me access to everyone’s home. I was able to see the facade on the outside, how people lived on the inside and the hidden things pushed to the back. Jesus sees all. He sees the lies, the heart and the dirty sin.

When the time comes for Jesus to return, no one will have an excuse for everyone will have received ample notice and warnings. Those who choose to ignore the warnings will suffer the consequences.

Are there areas in your life that are cluttered with sin and disobedience? If so, you are being warned to “get your house in order” before it is too late.

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Share this:

Like this:

FOLLOWING JESUS’ RESURRECTION, He told His disciples that after He ascended to Heaven to be with the Father, He would send to them the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit. Jesus further explained that when the Holy Spirit came, He would convict the world of its sin for the people refused to believe the truth concerning Him.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts: ‘Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the Earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.’” Haggai 2:6-7

As God has spoken, so it will be…The world is condemned on account of sin, the absence of God’s righteousness and due to its coming judgment – for Satan, the ruler of this world whom it follows, has already been judged. (John 16:5-11)

Divine change is coming! It is evident in the atmosphere, in the weather and in the influx of natural disasters we see taking place all over the world. It is especially evident in the blatant evil that is manifesting all around us.

Divine transition is coming! The judgment that is to come will be for all people – unbelievers and Believers alike. It will affect the people’s lives, families, finances, businesses, religious institutions, the government, the nations and the world at large. This transition will create a perfect storm that will usher in events, ordained by God, to fulfill what has been prophesied for centuries by the prophets of old concerning these last days.

God is quickening, correcting, positioning and resurrecting people. Many are being strategically placed all over the world much like pieces on a chessboard. God is establishing some and moving others. He is reviving what is thought to be dead and destroying what is thought to be indestructible. He is opening and closing doors. He is removing the old and introducing the new. He is planting, growing and uprooting. He is stretching, birthing and maturing. God is shaking everything and everyone. Beware, for what can be shaken will be shaken.

If you do not stand firm on the strong foundation of Jesus, you will be crushed by the Rock. As for those who are true Believers, few will come through it unscaved while many will come through it bruised and broken – but you WILL come through it victorious! Everyone will come through it forever changed.

“Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter: 4:12-19

Like this:

Believers and non-Believers, alike, read the Scripture verse, “What God has joined together let not man separate.” (Mark 10:9) and believe it to mean that every marriage is a union God has ordained and therefore will bless. Unfortunately, this is not so. God is not obligated to bless every marriage – only the ones He has formed. You can liken this to a couple who falsely forges the name of a wealthy co-signer onto a purchase then blatantly expects the co-signer to pay the bill.

God told Adam that it was not good for man (or woman) to be alone. Most of us will agree. So, we set out to remedy the problem by trying to find that perfect person we believe was made just for us. Furthermore, we are convinced that when we do, they will make us happy, we will make them happy and the union will be a happily-ever-after kind of marriage. This makes sense to us because the world tells us that the pursuit of happiness is what leads to true success. Well, what if this theory doesn’t work? What happens when the so-called happy couple admits that they’re still not happy? The world tells them to go their own separate ways and the seeking cycle continues.

By now, we should all know that there is no such thing as a perfect person therefore there is no such thing as a perfect marriage. We are all imperfect people living in an imperfect world and common sense tells us that it is impossible for perfection to come out of imperfection. Neither does the pursuit of happiness lead to success – as God sees success – in marriage or otherwise, contrary to what the world may teach and believe. Why is God’s opinion so important here? Well, everyone wants their marriage to be blessed, right? Only God is in the business of blessing. If you haven’t given it much thought, you must know that the opposite of blessed is cursed – and who wants that? According to God, there is no middle ground here. You will have either one or the other. So, how can a couple have a good and successful marriage? Well, the answer depends on the kind of marriage you are pursuing – God’s model or the world’s…

We must first understand that marriage of itself is good, yet not all marriages are good. You see, marriage is good not because the world says so but because God says so. Why again does God’s opinion matter? Because God is the Creator of good. Therefore, if you want to pursue a truly good and successful marriage, it must be done according to the way the Creator of marriage designed it.

Satan is the counterfeit king of this world. He poisons everything God intends for good and makes it evil. Therefore, a worldly marriage is a mockery of the real thing. It has become a man-made version of two or more beings (for in this evil day, people are even marrying animals) who have distorted God’s model and changed it to a model that conforms to their own fleshly desires. A godly marriage is one where a man and a woman are joined together, by God, for the purpose of glorifying Jesus. This Heavenly model of marriage is entitled to and can therefore claim the promises of God which includes His blessings.

I want to make the following disclaimer. Contrary to what some may believe, a godly marriage is not a marriage without problems. Quite the contrary. God has His work cut out for Him which is by design. However, a godly marriage is a marriage that reflects God’s presence and therefore effects a divine change. Bottom line, the couple going in should not be the same when the Lord calls them out.

The world defines success as those, or that, which has accomplished prosperity, affluence, wealth, opulence, comfort and ease of life. The world also tells us that if we achieve these things, we will have all we need to be happy. Well, I challenge you to ask those who have pursued and achieved these things if they are truly happy and content. If they are honest, they will tell you that the pursuit of happiness will lead you into a lie. However, all is not lost…

As long as there are those who follow the leading of the Lord – there is hope for the lost and the sanctity of a godly marriage. To “love each other as I have loved you” is a command Jesus gives to all His children. However, in a godly marriage, the Lord uses husbands and wives, who submit themselves to Him, in a unique and powerful way that ultimately affects the Church body and furthers His Heavenly Kingdom. The Lord instructs and teaches His married couples on how to provide the proper training ground for their children who will follow for you see, God requires ministry to start in the family first. The Lord places a godly mantle on His married couples and gives them an immense responsibility for He will hold them accountable for modeling and teaching His precepts within the family unit. They are held to account for nurturing the gifts, who are the children, God has placed under their care. These responsibilities include spiritual education and proper discipline. God pours Himself into His married vessels and through relationship with each other, He teaches them to walk in holiness, faithfulness, unity, forgiveness, mercy, grace, support, tenderness, appreciation, consideration, patience and so much more. This is so very important, for what God does in the family first will ultimately affect the world.

Marriage is the front line attack in spiritual warfare with the enemy. God considers the roles of a godly husband and wife the most important and the most influential positions there are on this Earth. If a marriage is strong, the family unit will be strong and will serve as both offense and defense against the enemy. However, the enemy also knows this which is why he strategically sets out to ensnare the parents which is an attack on the marriage, and what affects the marriage ultimately trickles down to the children. This tactic can devastate a family.

A godly marriage is not found by accident. It requires one following the leading of the Lord. As a mature Christian, you should be able to recognize the difference between God’s voice, the enemy’s voice and your own. If you are new in the faith, allow me to explain. When you were a newborn baby, you came into this world not recognizing the voice of your mother and father for they were unknown to you. It took time for you to learn your parents and be able to recognize their voice apart from anyone else. The more time you spent talking and listening to your parents, the more you came to know them. Eventually, it became easy for you to recognize their voice. In fact, you came to know them so well you could distinguish who they were – even if they spoke to you from a distance. Recognizing the voice of God is very much like this. The more time you spend with Him, praying and listening, the better you will know Him and the better you will be able to discern His voice as He leads and guides you. This is very important for you will need to hear God speak to you concerning the people around you. God tells us to test the spirit of others to know who they are and who they follow. The Holy Spirit is the One who reveals this to you. How can you discern the spirit of others if you cannot discern the Spirit of God?

God uses people as well as circumstances in the lives of all His children to move them towards fulfillment of His Kingdom plan. Satan knows this too so he also uses people to get you to make decisions that will distract you and redirect you from God’s plan which is why we must be very selective about our relationships. People enter into relationships with the opposite sex for many reasons including loneliness, physical attraction, lust, wealth, security, etc. Keep in mind that whatever motivates you to ‘buy,’ the enemy will always be willing to ‘sell.’ So you must be careful who you allow close to you for these are the people who will influence you the most. God has a plan for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Living according to the leading of the Lord ensures that you will be in the midst of His good and perfect plan for your life. What appears to the natural eye is not a reliable way to confirm God’s Will for the enemy is deceiving. You have to depend on your ability to hear the voice of God leading you.

God wants a relationship with you. This means He wants to be a part of every area of your life. Sometimes, however, we may choose to ignore the Lord for God often leads us in a direction where we don’t want to go. God may want to change some things that He knows will be better for us but we may not understand it at the time. When I married my husband twenty three years ago, I was accustomed to making all the decorating decisions for my household. I did not take it well when I found out that he also enjoyed decorating. Things became even more confrontational when I discovered that our tastes in decorating were completely different. For years this created conflict between us. One day, the Lord helped me see that I was being selfish. He reminded me that it was his house, too. So, I made the decision to join with my husband in decorating decisions. Surprisingly, something as trivial as decorating together did wonders for our marriage. As we opened our minds to consider what we normally would not have, we began to appreciate our unique differences. This opened the door for better communication, more consideration and tenderness between us. In that process I came to discover that our combined efforts delivered a result that was actually better than it would have been had I did it alone. God cared enough to step into my marriage and intervene, even in matters of decorating. He could see the big picture when I could not.

If having a good and successful marriage is important to you, it is necessary for you to be a Believer in Jesus. Then it is imperative that you ask for and heed the advice of the Lord. But remember, His timing is not our timing so be patient and wait on God. Now, let’s be honest here. Sometimes we don’t not want what God wants for us. There are times that we want what we want when we want it. However, we must remember that when we are obedient, we can trust that whatever happens as the result of following the leading of the Lord will always be God’s Will for us which is where we really want to be – even if it doesn’t look or feel like we want. This is where trust in God comes into play. On the other hand, when we are disobedient, we cannot blame God when things go wrong and we cannot expect Him to clean up a mess that we made. Yet, because God loves us, He extends His mercy and grace to us and He promises to use even our mistakes for our ultimate good. He is truly our Heavenly Father and we are truly His children. In fact, God loves us so much that He promises to give us a way out of our bad situations. Look for it and when you see it, don’t hesitate to take it. We should always welcome the opportunity for the Lord to help us make right our wrongs and redirect us to the place where we should be.

Don’t take for granted those who are closest to you. God uses the people in our lives like family members and close friends to assist Him in the work that He is doing in us. For those who are married, be mindful that the Lord uses our spouses more than anyone else to orchestrate change that He deems necessary and this change can often be painful and uncomfortable. However, we must trust that the Lord will work it all out in the end.

When you submit your life to the Lord, you can have peace in knowing that God has your back in all situations. This does not mean, however, that He will make your life perfect. If God’s way was easy, everyone would be following Him. Yet, only few are able to walk the straight and narrow path that leads to Him while many will travel the broad way that leads to destruction. When times get rough and you are tempted to lose faith in God, remember this: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

Following this world, which is deceptive and evil, will lead you into a life of misery and destruction. However, God’s plan for you is good and perfect. What does that plan look like? Only God knows. Trust Him and follow His leading. If you do this, He assures you that you will be in the middle of His perfect Will and you will be blessed. Anyone who is led into a marriage, as the result of following the Lord, can rest assured that they have a good marriage that God has ordained for a purpose and if the two of you continue to follow the leading of the Lord, it will be considered successful – in God’s eyes.